Mike Veale: Cleveland police chief resigns amid probe into ‘serious’ misconduct allegations

Chief constable previously reprimanded by watchdog for lying over how work phone was smashed

Mike Veale resigned from his post as chief constable of Cleveland Police with immediate effect (Cleveland Police)

A police chief has resigned amid a probe into “serious” allegations about his conduct.

Mike Veale quit his post as chief constable of Cleveland Police shortly after a referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The former Wiltshire Police chief had been in the role for less than a year, after arriving in 2017 amid a storm of controversy about his handling of an investigation into the former prime minister Ted Heath.

Mr Veale had also been reprimanded for smashing his work phone with a golf club then falsely claiming it had been run over.

That incident was subject to an IOPC investigation that ended in September, and The Independent understands the new probe is over unrelated and serious allegations.

The watchdog was alerted late last week to the claims, which relate to Mr Veale’s time with Cleveland Police over the past 10 months.

A spokesperson for the IOPC said: “We can confirm that we recently received a referral from Cleveland’s police and crime commissioner concerning the conduct of chief constable Mike Veale.

“We are assessing the information we have received to decide what further action is required.”

Barry Coppinger, Cleveland’s elected police and crime commissioner, said Mr Veale had resigned with immediate effect on Friday.

“Due to the serious nature of the allegations, the matter has been referred to the IOPC,” he added.

“I am proud to oversee a police force where such allegations are always taken seriously.

“It is important that the appropriate processes are allowed to take effect and, as a result, I am unable to comment further on this matter.”

Humberside Police chief constable Lee Freeman has been appointed to temporarily lead Cleveland Police for three months, until a permanent replacement is found.

Mr Coppinger said the force had undergone “a comprehensive programme of transformation and improvement” in recent years, and “dedicated and compassionate officers and staff” would continue to work hard.

The Conservative mayor of the Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, called on Mr Coppinger to resign and said he had opposed Mr Veale’s appointment last year.

“To appoint someone under investigation and under such a dark cloud nationally was more than a mistake – it was reckless and incompetent,” Mr Houchen said.

“The chief constable merry-go-round must come to an end and our police commissioner must resign.”

Mr Veale’s replacement will become Cleveland Police’s fifth chief constable in eight years.

The force has been hit by a series of scandals – including racism, corruption and spying on journalists – and in 2011 former chief constable Sean Price was sacked for gross misconduct.

In September, the IOPC reprimanded Mr Veale for lying about how his work phone was smashed and found he had a “case to answer for misconduct relating to honesty and integrity”.

Investigators found no evidence to support anonymous allegations Mr Veale had deliberately destroyed the phone to hide evidence over contact with the media.

At the time, Mr Coppinger said he would be subjected to a “management action plan”, including a programme of professional development.

In November, Mr Veale garnered national media coverage by hitting out at cuts to police budgets after Hartlepool residents started their own patrols to combat crime.

Mr Veale admitted the service being provided was “nowhere near where it needs to be” but called for the government to increase police funding.

As chief constable of Wiltshire Police, Mr Veale led an investigation into historical sexual abuse allegations against Sir Edward Heath.

The £1.5m operation was closed in 2017 when police said if the late Conservative politician were still alive he would have been interviewed under caution.

Mr Veale was severely criticised by friends and supporters of Sir Edward for his handling of the claims, but insisted there had been “compelling and obvious reasons to investigate” them years after his death.